From Sigi Hiss
, at 14. August 2012 13:32
by Richard Woodard -Wine giant E&J Gallo is to buy the Courtside Cellars business to feed growing demand for wines from California’s Central Coast.
The company said the purchase, for an undisclosed sum, would include Courtside’s 12-year-old winery at San Miguel, capable of crushing 60,000 tons of grapes, along with 34 acres of land – but not the company’s original facility in San Luis Obispo.
‘We’ve been expanding our presence in the Central Coast over the past few years and consider the region to be a key part of our premium wine strategy moving forward,’ said Roger Nabedian, senior vice president and general manager of Gallo’s Premium Wine Division.
‘We are excited to have this highly capable winery to support our Bridlewood and Edna Valley Vineyards businesses.’
Courtside’s Bob Schiebelhut said: ‘We will be keeping our San Luis Obispo facility, where we will focus our efforts on building our Tolosa Winery brand into one of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay estates, as well as continue to offer custom wine services.’
The acquisition follows Gallo’s purchase of more than 300 acres of vineyards in Monterey County earlier this year. In 2011, the company bought Edna Valley Vineyards, producer of one of the best-selling Chardonnay brands in the US, and it purchased Bridlewood Estate Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley in 2004. The deal to buy Courtside Cellars is expected to close later this week. www.decanter.com
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